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Skin Deep

Play trailer Poster for Skin Deep R Released Mar 3, 1989 1h 41m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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32% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Hard-drinking novelist Zach Hutton (John Ritter) spirals out of control after his wife (Alyson Reed) and mistress both leave him. Alone and crippled by a bad case of writer's block, Zach slips in and out of casual relationships and one-night stands, while his drinking becomes more and more severe. With the help of a bartender (Vincent Gardenia) and his therapist (Michael Kidd), Zach confronts his demons -- women and alcohol -- and rediscovers his writing voice.
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Skin Deep

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Critics Consensus

John Ritter's charm goes a long way, but aside from a few funny moments, Skin Deep sees writer-director Blake Edwards recycling his own material.

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Critics Reviews

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Kathy Huffhines Detroit Free Press These women exist only to wear clothes and take them off. With clothes is better than without, since the communication of genuine sexual attraction isn't one of the movie's strong points. Rated: 5/10 Jun 18, 2021 Full Review Michael H. Price Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com John Ritter reminds us of just how strong a seriocomic actor he can be in this almost-sequel to Blake Edwards' "10." Rated: 7/10 Jun 18, 2021 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times "Skin Deep" has a couple of the funniest moments Edwards ever devised; it has John Ritter's easy-to-take charm, but it ends up living up to its title far too closely. Jun 18, 2021 Full Review Joe Leydon The Moving Picture Show Even when he's dealing with serious subjects, Edwards still can make an audience laugh with some of the best-timed sight gags in contemporary cinema. Nov 25, 2021 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Skin Deep is overall a letdown coming from this talented filmmaker. Rated: 2.5/4 Jul 24, 2021 Full Review Hal Lipper Tampa Bay Times A few hilarious situations hardly compensate for this otherwise turgid meditation on middle-age woes. Rated: 2/5 Jun 18, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This is one of the greatest comedies ever made! John Ritter does things in this movie that only Jim Carrey could do. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/25/24 Full Review Barry J One of the best movies of all time. Don't read the negative reviews. This movie is hilarious. Along with making several great points, that most reviewers apparently can't see. He is a womanizer and alcoholic that has several demons. Instead of seeing the movie for how sad he truly is. Most of the reviews just see a bunch of nude women. Most men love the thought of being with several women and loving them all. But this movie shows how truly sad it is. And how many of us have those demons we fight daily. Plus, it's a movie that makes you laugh!! And we all need that. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review Audience Member One of my favorite comedies from the 80's!! Love John Ritter (he was perfectly cast in this movie) and Blake Edward movies!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Paul K One of my all time favorite comedies. Ritter at the top of his game. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/01/20 Full Review Audience Member such a great movie, john Ritter was amazing. Great Romantic Comedy. helpful and inspiration for those with substance abuse Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member (If you are a middle aged man, especially) You owe to yourself to watch this movie. I liked the story, the funny parts and Ritter's performance. The only minus...it borrows a few bits from "10". Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Skin Deep

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Cast & Crew

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Blake Edwards

Director

John Ritter

Zach

Vincent Gardenia

Barney

Alyson Reed

Alex

Joel Brooks

Jake

Julianne Phillips

Molly

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Skin Deep

Skin Deep (1989) Skin Deep (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Hard-drinking novelist Zach Hutton (John Ritter) spirals out of control after his wife (Alyson Reed) and mistress both leave him. Alone and crippled by a bad case of writer's block, Zach slips in and out of casual relationships and one-night stands, while his drinking becomes more and more severe. With the help of a bartender (Vincent Gardenia) and his therapist (Michael Kidd), Zach confronts his demons -- women and alcohol -- and rediscovers his writing voice.
Director
Blake Edwards
Producer
Tony Adams
Screenwriter
Blake Edwards
Distributor
Media Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Production Co
Morgan Creek Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 3, 1989, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 27, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.4M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround
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